Question

When Henrietta gets a phone call telling her that she is going to be laid off of her job, her first response is fear and shock. In response to this stressor, her hypothalamus sends a signal to her pituitary gland to release a hormone called _____________.

Answer 1

Answer: cortisol

Explanation:

Cortisol is a steroid hormone, in the glucocorticoid class of hormones. Cortisol nature’s built-in alarm system. It’s your body’s main stress hormone. It works with certain parts of your brain to control your mood, motivation, and fear. It is produced in the adrenal gland.

When the body is faced with stressors such as shock and fear. The hypothalamus releases corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), which travels to the pituitary gland, triggering the release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). This hormone travels to the adrenal glands, prompting them to release cortisol. The body thus stays revved up and on high alert.